According to data from the National Safety Council, it appears that 2015 was the deadliest year for U.S. and Maine drivers in nearly a decade.

Maine Traffic Fatalities are on the Rise

In Maine, we have seen an increase in traffic fatalities on pace with the national average. Comparing the first six months of 2015 to the first six months of 2014, there were two additional deaths – an increase of three percent. Comparing 2015 to 2013 shows an increased fatality rate of 17 percent.

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2015: A Deadly Year for Drivers

In September, the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that 2015 could see the most traffic-related fatalities since 2007. The NSC’s data covered only the first six months of the year, and so didn’t include the busy summer vacation season.

If recent news reports are any indication, it appears that figures for the second half of the year will be at least on pace with the first. There are daily news reports of fatal accidents. The Portland Press Herald reports that motorcycle accident fatalities are on the rise as well.

Newsweek, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets have all pointed to two primary factors that are contributing to the increase in traffic fatalities. These are:

An increase in the number of people getting behind the wheel, and

An increase in the prevalence of distracted driving.

More Drivers Means More Fatal Accidents

How Jobs Affect Traffic

In 2007, America began its plunge into the Recession. With fewer people working, commuter traffic was down and fewer families could afford vacations. Fewer cars on the roads translated into fewer fatal accidents.

As we emerge from the Recession in 2015, people are back to work. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.1 percent in September – down from 5.9 percent a year earlier and down by half from the historic 10.2 percent rate in October 2009. Unfortunately, this economic growth has a dangerous byproduct: more jobs mean more traffic and more traffic means more traffic-related fatalities.

Gas Prices Play a Role, Too

Low gas prices are also contributing to the increased number of drivers on the roads. The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Maine was around $2.26 in early October 2015. A year ago, the average was $3.39. With more people working and with lower gas prices, highways in Maine and across the country are seeing traffic at historic rates.

70 Percent of Drivers Admit to Using Smartphones Behind the Wheel

According to a study conducted by AT&T, as many as 70 percent of drivers use Smartphones behind the wheel. The NSC estimates that texting alone makes a driver eight times more likely to cause an accident and that overall cell phone use is responsible for 27 percent of all vehicle collisions. This includes:

Sending emails

Shooting video

Taking selfies

Texting

Using Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram

Video chatting

With not only more people driving, but driving distracted, many experts predict high numbers of serious and fatal accidents for the foreseeable future.

What Can We Expect in 2016?

Looking ahead to 2016, the factors that have led to an increase in traffic deaths in 2015 are likely to continue. Economic indicators suggest that we may continue to see relatively strong jobs numbers, and many experts predict that gas prices will go lower before starting to rise. Earlier this year the Maine legislature voted against a law banning handheld cell phone use, leaving distracted driving a prevalent issue as well.

Lewiston, Maine Accident Lawyers

The attorneys at Fales & Fales, P.A. have 55 years of combined experience representing car accident victims and their families in Maine. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, including seven-figure settlements in auto accident cases involving serious injuries and wrongful death. Our firm has been located in downtown Lewiston since 1891. To find out if you may be entitled to financial compensation, you can call us at (888) 526-9408 or request a free case review online today.

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A Monmouth man received a $1 million settlement for a low back disk herniation suffered when his vehicle was rear ended by another driver. The injury required fusion surgery.

$2 Million Wrongful Death Settlement

Before the start of trial, a settlement was reached for the estate of a local man who died after a collision with a driver who failed to see a stop sign.

$250,000 Verdict for Motorcycle Accident

An Androscoggin County jury awarded $250,000 to a Mechanic Falls man who suffered severe leg injuries in an accident caused by a driver who failed to stop for a red light.

$236,000 Slip and Fall Settlement

A tenant who slipped and fell in an icy parking lot at an apartment complex settled his claim against an Auburn landlord for $236,000. The tenant aggravated a pre-existing back condition in the fall and ultimately required surgery.

$350,000 Settlement for Prescription Error

A Greene man received a settlement $350,000 from a drugstore for injuries caused by a pharmacist’s error in filling a prescription. The man developed side effects from taking the wrong drug.

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